NO HORSES, NO COACHMAN. 183 



operation : the coachman drove the wheelers and the 

 guard was extemporized as a jolly postboy, riding one 

 of the leaders in the orthodox postboy style, barring 

 his dress, and in this way the twelve-mile stage was 

 got through. 



Another instance of a sudden and unexpected 

 change in the horses at the end of a stage occurred 

 once at St. Albans ; where, so far from there being 

 no horses to go on there was an excess, two teams 

 being ready to be put to, though only one, of course, 

 could be used. 



The Halifax ' Hope ' was horsed out of London by 

 •a man carrying on his business in Little Britain. 

 Some diflferences had arisen between him and Sher- 

 man, of the Bull and Mouth, who was desirous of 

 getting the 'Hope' removed to his house; but not 

 having succeeded in accomplishing this, he resorted 

 to a practical and effectual mode of carrying out his 

 wish. On the up-journe)' of the coach, when it 

 reached St. Albans very early in the morning, he had 

 four horses ready to be put to, notwithstanding that 

 the proper team was also there ; but, probably pre- 

 pared for any obstacles he might find to his horses 

 being put in,- he was ready with sufficient assistance, 

 and actually had the coach taken on by his own 

 horses, changing at his own stables between London 

 and St. Albans, and having the coach driven into the 

 Bull and Mouth yard. 



